I won all my matches easily and proceeded to the finals.

Even for me, Hiding Magic <Najira> has a large power consumption and I had to leave it permanently on but all my opponents were even smaller fry than Kurt so my average match times were less than 3 seconds. Due to this, I didn’t have to worry about exhausting my magic power.

“I have confirmed the destruction of Noiria’s sword. The victor is Arnos Voldigod.”

Cheers came from one corner of the auditorium where my fan union and the white clothes have gathered while a different commotion was coming from elsewhere.

“Seriously…….again…….another one defeated…….”

“He’s got to the finals unhurt……..? It’s a strength you wouldn’t expect from a mixed-race……”

“Then all we can do is trust in the demon sword saint.”

“Aah, Ray Grandori also has flawless victories. I’m sure he will meet our expectations.”

I headed back to the waiting room with the words of the royal faction lingering behind me.

Misa is waiting for me.

“Are you going now?”

“Aah. Straight after I talk to my parents.”

I then leave the waiting room and head to the auditorium bumping into my father on the way.

“Aah Arnos. Father has to go to work now but I’ll definitely come to watch you tomorrow.”

“If you’re busy don’t worry about it. There’s the magic broadcast as well.”

The demon sword tournament is being broadcast across Deiruheido with Remote Clairvoyance <Rimnet>.

The equipment to broadcast it has spread to about 50% of Deiruheido so quite a few people can now watch it and that is one of the reasons the royal factions don’t want me winning.

“Don’t worry. This is your big moment. Even if I’m busy I’ll still come watch you.”

My father slaps me on the shoulder.

“……Uh……..!”

He probably forgot he was injured.

He really overworked himself.

I heal my father’s injuries with Healing <Ento>.

“How’s that?”

“O…..Oooh I’m healed! As expected from Arnos. There’s no pain at all no matter how much I move!”

My father makes some useless movement back and forward and side to side and—

“Uoohh….!!”

He stumbled and hit his head against the wall. My father crouches down cradling his head.

“Ugugu….sorry. Healing once more please…..”

“It’ll heal even if I leave it.”

The spell should still be active. It doesn’t require using again.

“…..Oh. It really did heal.”

My father stands up.

“See you.”

Shaking my hand my father runs away quickly.

“Sorry your father is so busy. He’s overworked but he still made time to come see you.”

My mother comes over to me while speaking.

“What’s father working on right now?”

“Your father told me to keep it a secret.”

My mother laughs while smiling sweetly.

“It was impossible for your father to forge a Kongo iron sword at our house so he went and bowed his head to an acquaintance and borrowed their faculties. He’s working to pay them back now.”

I see. So that’s why he’s not been at home recently.

“Arnos-chan is clever so you surely didn’t want to trouble us to buy you a sword. We didn’t want that to stop you so your dad made you a sword.”

Fumu. I’ve been completely misunderstood.

If I win the tournament should I say it was thanks to my father’s sword?

“It’s a secret that mother told you though okay.”

“Understood. I’m done for today so I’m going home.”

“Eh? Aren’t you going to watch the rest of the matches Arnos-chan?”

“I’ve got something to take care of. Ray will win anyway.”

“I see. If you’ve got something to do, do you want me to look after your sword?”

My mother tries to take my Kongo iron sword.

“It’s not really a problem to keep it.”

“But it’s heavy. Arnos-chan needs to rest for tomorrow.”

She forcibly takes my sword.

“It’s okay. Without this sword, Arnos-chan can’t participate in the finals tomorrow. Mother will protect this sword at all costs.”

It’s true that a spare sword cannot be used in the tournament but Avos Dillheavia will probably want me in the finals so he can lay his trap. I don’t believe he will try to stop me from participating.

My mother holds my sword tightly to her chest.

“I’ll  entrust it to you then.”

“Un. I’ll carefully take it home”

Sasha and Misha are somewhere in the arena as well so everything will be fine.

“See you later.”

Saying bye to my mother I left the areas and as soon as I did girls voices rang out.

“Can you give us some advice for our new cheer song honoured mother.”

“Yes. Well then, listen up.”

She seems completely fine with my fans. What kind of song will they make? Honestly, I don’t want to think too much about it.

“Thanks for waiting.”

I call out to Misa waiting by the entrance.

“No problem.”

Taking Misa’s hand I use Transfer <Gatom> and arrive at the Lognoss magic clinic.

“What can I do?”

“Can you use that thing you used in the team based exam?”

“Rain Spirit Mist <Fuska>? It’s spirit magic to make it rain though.”

“Aah. I’ll lend you the magic power so make it as wide as possible.”

“Understood.”

Using Demon King Army <Guys> I send magic power to Misa.

Gradually a rain cloud covering the entire city appeared and it started raining.

Using <Fuska> we melted into the rain and fog.

Opening the door to the clinic a slight fog entered.

We boldly walk through the corridors filled with people but thanks to <Fuska> they can’t see us.

Using my demon eyes I use my distance vision and check the list of inpatients.

Sheila Grandori. That will be Ray’s mother.

It seems she’s in a special room on the 10th underground floor.

We head downstairs and arrive at the 10th floor. There’s nothing strange looking about it. It looks like a normal hospital ward.

I opened the door without any hesitation.

The first thing to catch my eye was the magic circle covering the entire room. It was a magic formation used for healing and Sheila was sleeping on a bed in the centre of it.

Me and Misa walk to her side.

“….Her body is……”

Misa let out a surprised voice. Sheila body was so transparent it looked like she was about to disappear.

She showed no sign of waking up and her vitality was so low I wasn’t even sure that she was alive.

“Fumu. So this is a spirit disease?”

I touch Sheila’s head with my finger and diagnose her body with my demon eyes, however, no matter how much I look into her abyss I cannot find the source of her illness. Apart from being weak, her magic power is stable as well.

It’s not strange that her body is deteriorating with how weak her magic is but her condition seems to in a lull at the moment.

“……Have you understood it…..?”

“It’s similar to someone getting old…….”

Her body is normal. It looks like her life is ending due to natural causes and she’s weakening, however, I’m sure she’s still quite young.

Wait…is this?

“I see. So that’s what they are calling spirit disease.”

“What do you mean?”

“This woman is a half spirit half demon like you.”

Misa’s eyes open in surprise.

“But Ray-san is a royal….?”

“It’s not really much of a mystery. She’s probably his adoptive mother and not his birth mother.”

“….Yes…….that’s probably it…….”

“This disease is probably related to her spirit side. The lives of spirits are slightly complex. The common sense of the mazoku won’t apply to them.”

If it was related to her mazoku side my demon eyes would have picked up her illness.

“That reminds me. Ray-san did say half-demon spirits didn’t live long and they were not lively.”

Wasn’t that when they were talking in my garden?

“Have you got any ideas?”

“No…..Even though I’m a half I don’t know anything about spirits…..sorry……”

So his mother was taken hostage and Ray allowed a magic tool to be embedded in his body. I assume the royal faction offered him a cure for his mother as a trade-off.

How are they keeping her stable? The magic circle is having no effect on her whatsoever.

I don’t believe Ray is trusting the royals blindly either though.

Can this clinic really perform effective treatments on spirits? That would require a mazoku to be very knowledgeable about spirits and that means there is a very high chance they are from the age of myths.

What should I do?

Once I’ve helped his mother all I need to do is remove that tool from his body.

Should I search for the cure? No, let’s try something else first.

“Misa, I have a request.”

“Yes. What do you need?”

“Ask Ray about his circumstances, particularly his mother. If I can understand her past and in particular her origin I can use Time Manipulation <Lebaido> on her. If I can rewind her time then she will be cured even if I can’t find the source of her illness. Of course, if you mess up both you and Ray will be at risk.”

Misa nods in determination.

“I’ll try.”